Side frame



Aug. 16, 1932. M. H. HAMMETT SIDE FRAME Filed Aug. 11. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY5.

Aug. 16, 193 M. H. HAMMETT SI'DE FRAME Filed Aug. 11. 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 777% WWW ATTORNEY5 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE MERTON n. HAMMETT, orimvnnronr, Iowa, ASSIGNOR 'roTHE. nrmrnnnonr com raw, or nnrrnnnonr, IOWA, A conrona'rron or IOWASIDE FRAME Application filed August 14,1930. Serial 110.474,!501.

This invention relates to railway car trucks and more particularly tothe constnuctlon the side frame therefor.

One of the objects (if the present invention is to provide a railway cartruck sideframe of new and improved construction which W111 strengthenthe spring supporting portion and minimize distortion or deflectionthereof under heavy loads. a I

Another object is to'provide a car truck side frame with a tension webso-placed as to minimize deflection of the spring supporting portion andso positioned that no excessive mass of metal is formed to cause foundrytrouble such as poor metal, shrmkage cracks, and difficulty in removingcores A further object is to provide a car trupk side frame with areinforcing tensioumemher in the region of greatest strain 111 theapplication of heavy loads without materlally increasing the weight ofthe side frame.

A still further object is to provide a car truck side frame of improvedconstruction having a diagonal tension web connectmgthe upper and lowerwebs of the spring supporting portion of the frame.

A further obj ect is to provide an improved car truck side frame havingvertical struts between the top and bottom websof the spring supportingportion which in' conjunction with diagonal reinforcing webs form an in?verted queen post truss in the spring supporting portion of the sideframe. With the above and other objects in view which will be apparentfrom the detailed description to follow, the present invention consistsin certain features of construction and combinations of parts which willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains.

In the drawings which illustrate suitable embodiments of the presentinvention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck sideframe, a portion of the spring supporting portion and tension chordbeing broken away to show the reinforcing web; 7

Fig; 2 is a bottom plan view of the side frame shown in Fig. 1; 1 i a fline 3-3. of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the Fig. 4 is a transversesection taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the spring supportingportion and reinforcing web;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation ofa modified type of side frameembodying diagonal tension members of inverted U-shape.

cross section Y Fig. '6 is a transverse section taken substantially onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 5; I

Fig. 7 is a bottomplan view of the side frame shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side .elevation of a further modified type ofside frame embodying a tongue-shaped reinforcing web;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the side frame shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 10-10 ofFig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a section taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer" tolike parts throughout the several views, the railway car truck isprovidedwith side frames, each of which is preferably in the form of asingle Referring particularly to F igs. 1 to 4, in-

clusive, the compression chord A in section is of inverted channel shapeand embodies spaced sides 1 and web '2, and in a similar manner theinclined portions O ofv the-tension chord are formed of spaced sides 3and webs 4 to-fprovide a channel-shaped crosssection. The bolstercolumns I) are also channel-shapedil cross-section and each inlot 3 ofthe tension and compression chords respectively, and a web 6 extendingtransverse, ly of the side frame.

The central horizontal portion B of the tension chord is provided withspaced sides 7 integralwith the sides 3 of the inclined portion and witha bottom web 8. The horizontal portion B of the tension chord has a flatweb 9 extending across the top thereof and spaced .from the lower web 8and projecting laterally beyond tlie. upper sides 7 of the body ortionof the chord to form horizontal si e flanges 10 which provide arelatively wide spring supporting-portion immediately beneath the end of.the car bolster. Each flange 10 is suitably reinforced by spacedvertical webs 11 which connect the under side of the flanges with thesides 7 of the tension chord portion B. The

tween the bolster columns.

fiat web 9 extends from the base of one bolster column D to the base ofthe other bolster column so that a relatively wide flat springsupporting portion is provided he The provision of a relatively lonhorizontal spring-supporting portion in t e tension chord tends toweaken the tension chord since the load imposed by the supportingsprings tends to cause the tension chord to assume the shape which wouldbe assumed by a flexible tension member supported at the ends of thecompression'chord and subjected to a similar load.

In carrying out my invention, I have provided spaced vertical struts 12between the sides 7 of the central tension chord portion B which extendsfrom the lower transverse web 8 to the upper web9 forming the springsupporting portion. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the web 1 ofthe inclined chord portions C is formed with a triangular recess 13directly below 'the bolster coluinn D which forms flanged portions 14integral with the 5 web 4 and diverging towardthe lower horizontal web 8of the central portion B and which merge into the web 8 substantially inthe region of the vertical strut 12. The up per marginal edges of eachinclined portion C of the tension chord are formed with inwardlyextending flanges 15a which extend downwardly toward the web 6 of thebolster column D and merge into a web portion 15 lying outwardly of theweb 6-. Each web '15 extends downwardly at an ,angleand mer es into theconnection between the upper horizontal web 9 and the vertical bolstercolumn web 6. As shown in Fig. 1, I have rovideda web 16 inte ral withand extendmg between the sides the lower horizontal web 8 of the centralportion B below the upper web 9 and substantially at the connectionsbetween the vertical struts 12 andthe lower web 8, and which extendsupwardly merging into the which merges into I eludes sides 5 integralwith the sides 1 andweb 15 and preferably at the same angle as the web15 in the reglon of the connections of web 9 and column D.

If desired, the web 16 below the upper horizontal web 9 may be centrallyrecessed at 16a as shown directly below the web 9, thus providing spacedleg portions joining in with the horizontal web 9, and furthermore, ifdesired, the vertical web 6 of each bolster column D may be centrallyrecessed at 17, providing side truss portions which merge into the web15 and 'into the upper horizontal web 9. I

It will thus be seen that I have provided a tension chord comprising thecentral portion B and inclined portions 0 with reinforcing webs 16 whichextend upwardly at an angle from the lower horizontal web 8 and verticalstruts 12 and merge into the connections between the upper horizontalweb 9 and the vertical bolster columns D.

It will be further seen that I have provided the tension chord with aweb portion 4 which terminates in flaing'es is that extend downwardly toa horizontal portion and then merge into the bottom Web 8 substantiallyat the sides 7 in the region of the integral connections between thevertical reinforcing struts 12, lower horizontal web 8 and reinforcingweb 16.

The reinforcing web 16 thus provides an addedtension member for thetension chord comprising the portions B and C which is so placed that itis necessary for it to elongate before any deflection ofthe springsupporting portion can occur. In other words, the

spring supporting portion is provided with vertical reinforcing struts12 which connect the upper spring-supporting portion web 9 with the-lower web 8 and wlth inclined web portions 16 which connect from theintersection of the strut 12 with the web 8 and extend to th end of theupper webs 9 which are joine into the webs ,6 of the bolster columns D.This in efi'ect provides a bridge truss action which, in combinationwith the flanged portions 14 of the webs 4 that connect into thehorizontal web 8, provides an added reinforcing means arranged intheregion where the greatest strain comes in the application of heavy loadswithout materially afi'ecting the weight of the side frame.

The load carried on, he spring supporting portion is transmitted intotheinclined remforcing web 16 at the flange portions 14 so that greatlyadded strength is supplied at the reg ons where the greatest distortionwould otherwise occur, thereby minimizing distortion and deflection ofthe spring suporting portion and strengthening the side ra'me at thispoint. In this truss action, the web 9 and vertical struts 12 are placedin compression and the lower web 8 and inclined webs 16 are placed intension, thus as above described providing a well reinforced tensionzportion of the tension chord.

flanges 21 which are formed at the lower p chord which preventssubstantial distortion and deflection of the spring supportin portionunder the applicatlon of heavy loa s.

It has been found by forming the apertures 13, 16a and 17 in the webs 4,16 and 6, respectively, that the weight thus reduced does not impairstrength and greatly facilitates man ufacture by reducing coolingstrains, and these greatly add to the ease with which the cores used inthe casting operation can be removeda In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown amodified construction of the side frames previously described. In thisconstruction the lower edges of the sides 20 of each inclined portion ofthe tension chord are formed with inwardly extending flanges 21 and theupper edges of the sides 20 are connected by a solid web 22 whichextends downwardly and merges into the web 24 of the central spring suporting edges of the inclined portions of the tension chord extenddownwardly and merge into the. lower web 25 of the spring supportingportion substantially at the connection of the vertical struts 26therewith which extend from the lower web 25 to the upper web 24substantially as shown in Flg. 5. The

flanges 21 are also inter-connected outwardly of the lower web 25 by anarrow transversely extending web 27 as shown in Fig. 7, and the sideflanges 21 below the connecting. web 27 diverge toward the lower web 25of the spring supporting portion and merge into the same substantiallyat. the sides 28 thereof.

As in the construction previously de'- scribed, a web 29 is provided toextend downwardly preferably at the same angle as the web 22 from theconnection of the bolster column web 23 and upper web.24 of the springsupporting portion and merges into the lower web 25 of the springsupporting portion substantially at the connection of the vertical strut26 with the lower web 25, thereby providing a suitable reinforcing webwhich serves as an added tension member extending between the connectionof the web 23 with the werT24 and the connection of the web 25 with thevertical strut 26. The web 29 is also recessed at 29a to provide meansfor removing the cores used during casting and for decreasing the weightof the 7. car truck side frame.

The action of the reinforcing web 29 is the same as the correspondingreinforcing web of the construction previously described. The loadcarried on the spring supporting porti n is transmitted to the inclinedreinforcing web 29. The reinforcing web 29 thus provides gre atly addedstrength at the region where the greatest distortions would otherwiseoccur, thereby minimizing such -distortion and deflection of the springsuphe side of the inclined portions of the tension chord areinterconnected at their upper edges by a solid, web member 31 and thelower edges.

further modified construction of side frame in Figs. 8 to 11, inelusive, and. in this construction the sides 30- thereofare'providedwith flanges 32 which merge into a narrow transverselyextending bridging web portion 35 in the region of the bolster columns,and then diverge outwardly in flanges 32a which extend downwardly to ahorizontal position and 'then. merge into the lower web 33 of thecentral portion of the tension chord. These flan e portions 32a mergeinto the lower Web 33 S11 stantially in the region of the connection ofthe vertical struts 34 with the lower web If desired, the bridging webportion 35 shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and the bridging web ortion 27 inFigs. 5 and 7 may be omitted. The web 31 connecting the sides 30 of-theinclined portions of the tension chord merges into the upper web 38 ofthe spring-supporting portion. A web 36 which is preferably inclined atthe same angle as the web 31 merges into the lower web 33 of the centralportion of the tension chord substantially at the region where thevertical strut 34 connects in o the web 33, and also merges in theregion of connection of the upper web 38 and web 31. As shown in Figs. 9and 11, this web 36 is spaced from the sides 37 of the central portionof the tension chord.

As in the construction previously described, the combination of.theupper and lower webs 38- and 33,.the web 36 and web 31, and the verticalstrut 34, provides an arrangement at each end of the spring supportinportion wherein a truss action occurs, the we 36 and the lower web 33then becoming tension members and the upper web 38 and the verticalstrut 34 then becoming compression members. These members act in such amanner that when loads are transmitted to the spring supporting portionsit is necessary for the webs 36 to elongate before any appreciabledistortion or depression of the spring supporting'portion can occur,thus providing reinforcing means to minimize distortion arid deflectionof the spring supporting portions.

In each of the constructions described, it will benoted that I haveprovided a car truck side frame with a reinforcing tension member thatconnects with the corner formed by the bolster column and upper web ofthe spring supporting portion and with the lower web of thecentral'portion of the tension chord which is subject to the greatestdeflection during the application of heavy loads on the springsupporting portion. In these constructions the upper and lower webs ofthe central portion of the tension chord, the

vertical strut members and the inclined webs construction may be alteredor omitted withextending from the connection of the struts with thelower web to the connections between the upper web and bolstercolumnwebs, provide a reinforcing truss which acts in such a mannerduring the application of heavy loads to the spring supporting portionthat it is necessary for the inclined webs to elongate when a load isexerted on the spring supporting portion and before any appreciabledeflection or distortion of the spring supporting portion can takeplace. This construction, in combination with the lower web or flangesof the inclined portions'of the tension chord provides a trussarrangement which adds considerable strength to the side frames withoutincreasing the weight there- In the side frame structures shown anddescribed, it will be observed that the reinforcing webs for the tensionchords and the tension chords are so constructed as to permit the springsupporting portion, bolster webs and reinforcing webs to mergeWithouuforming excessive metal at the point of merger and yet give thenecessary strength. This is a veryadvantageous feature in that iteliminates foundry trouble and provides for fine grain, satisfactorymetal which is free from shrink pockets, pipes and shrinkage cracks.

, It is to be further noted that even with the addition of the inclinedreinforcing webs extending between the bolster columns and the lower webof the central portion of the tension chord, means is provided thereinwherein the sand cores can be readily removed after the castingoperation.

It is to be further noted that in some of the constructions previouslydescribed, the.

tral portion of the tension chord and are formed with a recesstherebetween. Also, in some of these constructions the sides of theinclined portions of the tension web are formed with a solid webconnecting the lower edges thereof with the upper edges thereof havinginwardly extending flanges, whereas in other constructions the upper edes of the inclined portions of the tension 0 0rd are formed with a solidweb and the lower edges of the sides thereof are formed with inwardlyextending flanges. However, in all of these constructions, the trussaction provided by the addition of the inclined web extending betweentheconnections between the upper web and the bolster coluinn webs andthe-lower web of the central portion of the tension chord, is the same.

Aside from the specific embodiments of the invention herein shown anddescribed it will be understood that numerous details of the outdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do notdesire to limit the invention to the exact constructions shown, as Idesire to claim the invention broadly, as well as specifically, asindicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tensionchord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between saidcompression and tension chords, said tension chord having a centralhorizontal spring supportingportion including spaced sides, an upper webjoined at its ends with said bolster columns and at its sides with saidspaced sides, a lower web joined at its sides with said spaced sides,and inclined webs integral with and extending from said lower web andjoining with said upper web in the region of the connections of saidupper web with said bolster columns, said inclined spaced sides.

2. A car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tensionchord, 'and spaced bolster columns extending vertically betweensaid-compression and tension chords, said tension chord having acentral'horizontal spring supporting portion including spaced sides,upper and lower webs, .said upper web being joined at its ends with,said bolster columns, spaced vertical struts spaced from said sides andextending between said upper and lowerwebs, and inclined webs, eachinclined web being joined at one end with said lower web in the regionof connection of a strut therewith and at the other end with said upperweb substantially in the regiop1 of connection of a bolster columntherewit 3. A car'truck side framecomprising a compression chord, atension chord, and spaced bolster coiumns extending vertically betweensaid compression and tension chords, said tension chord having acentralhorizontal spring supporting portion including spaced sides,upper and'lower webs, said upper'web being joined at its ends with saidbolster columns, spaced vertical struts spaced from said sides andextending between said upper and, lower 'webs, and inclined webs, eachinclined web being joined at one end with said lower web in the regionof connection of a strut therewith and at the other end with said upperweb substantially in the respaced sides, upper and lower webs, saidupper web being joined at its ends with said bolster columns, spacedvertical struts spaced from said sides and extending between said upperand lower webs, and inclined webs, each inclined web being joined at oneend with said lower web in the region of connection of a. struttherewith and at the other end with said upper web substantially in theregion of connection of a bolster column therewith, said inclined websbeing spaced at their sides from said spaced sides.

5. A single piece car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, atension chord and spaced vertical bolster columns joining said chords,said tension chord having inclined portions including spaced sides andwebs interconnecting the upper edges of said sides and being joined withsaid bolster columns, and a central horizontal portion including upperand lower webs, the upper Web being joined at its ends with said bolstercolumns and webs of said inclined portions, and inclined webs each beingoined with said lower web and with said upper web in the region ofconnection. of said bolster columns and webs of said inclined portionstherewith.

6. A single piece car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, atension chord and spaced vertical bolster columns joining said chords,said tension, chords having inclined portions including spaced sides,in- Wardly extending flanges at the lower edges of said sides, and websinterconnecting the upper edges of said sides and being joined with saidbolster columns, and a central horizontal portion including upper andlower webs, the upper web being joined at its ends with said bolstercolumns and webs of said inclined portions, and the lower web beingjoined at its ends with said flanges of said inclined portions, andinclined webs each being joined with said lower web in the region ofconnection of said flanges therewith and with said upper web in theregion of connection of said bolster columns and webs of said inclinedportions therewith.

inclined portions, and the lower web being joined at its ends with saidflanges of said inclined portions, and inclined webs each being joinedwith said lower web in the region of connection of said flangestherewith and with said upper web in the region of connecprising acompression chord, a tension chord and spaced vertical bolster columnsjoining said chords, said tension chord having inclined portionsincluding spaced sides, inwardly extending flanges at the lower edges ofsaid sides, and webs interconnecting the upper edges of said sides andbeing joined with said bolster columns, and a central horizontal portionincluding upper and lower webs, the upper web being joined at its endswith said bolster columns and webs of said inclined portions, and thelower web being joined at its ends with said flanges of said inclinedportions, and inclined webs each be ing joined with said lower web inthe region of connection of said flanges therewith and with said upperweb in the region of connection of said bolster columns and webs of saidinclined portions therewith, said horizontal portion having verticalstruts extending between said upper and lower webs and joined with saidlower web in the region of connection of saidinclined webs therewith,and spaced sides integral with said upper and lower webs and the sidesof said inclined portions.

-9. A single piece car truck side frame comprising a compression chord,a tension chord and spaced vertical bolster columns joining said chords,said tension chord having inclined portions including spaced sides,inwardly extending flanges at the lower edges of said sides, and websinterconnecting the upper edges of said sides and being joined with saidbolster columns, and a central horizontal portion including upper andlower webs, the upper web being joined at its ends with said bolstercolumns and webs of said inclined-portions, and the lower web'beingjoined at its ends with said flanges of said inclined portions, andinclined webs each be-' ing joined with said lower web in the region ofconnection of said flanges therewith and with said upper web in theregion of connection of said bolster columns and webs of said inclinedportions therewith, said horizontal portion having vertical strutsextending between said upper and lower webs and joined with said lowerweb in the region of connection of said inclined webs therewith, andspaced sides integral with said upper and lower webs and the sides ofsaid inclined portions, said inclined webs being spaced from said spacedsides of said horizontal portion.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

MERTON H. HAMMETT.

